Judge Emil Giordano found Richard Denman, a New York City man who practices law in Washington, D.C., illegally used $829,719.54 from the estate of Gerard S. Petit, who died in 2005. A civil order Giordano issued this afternoon calls for Denman to pay back Petit's survivors the full amount and an additional $120,000 for legal fees.

Giordano's order also calls for a criminal investigation.

Denman could not be immediately reached for comment.

In the complaint, Allentown attorney Jack Seitz said his four clients were supposed to inherit more than $689,000 from Petit but received only $103,000. The clients, who live in France and range in age from 75 to 103, are Louise Lions, Raoul Jean Lions, Etienette Esther Ramonde Destaing Gardey and Heritage De Piere Louis Lions Nicole Lions Bezier.

Denman was hired as a special counsel for the estate, and he brought on California attorney John Rosenbaum to assist him in managing the estate, according to court documents. By 2012, both men had stopped responding to survivors' requests for their full inheritance, according to the complaint.

Instead, Denman withdrew $429,000 for himself, $18,250 to pay for his son's Connecticut boarding school and $8,000 for his life insurance premium, according to court documents. Rosenbaum withdrew $350,000 for himself, according to court documents.

Denman made at least six trips to France and one trip to the Caribbean island of St. Maarten under the pretext of working on the estate, according to court documents. Rosenbaum also made the trip to St. Maarten and at least one trip to France, according to the complaint. The estate picked up the men's travel expenses, according to court documents.

Neither Denman nor Rosenbaum is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Seitz wrote. As part of today's order, Giordano terminated their authority over the estate. They had been temporarily barred from controlling the estate since May.

Seitz declined to comment for this article.

Giordano called on the Northampton County District Attorney's Office to investigate Denman. The order will also be passed along to legal disciplinary boards in New York state and Washington, D.C., according to court documents.

District Attorney John Morganelli said his office is not investigating Denman but would comply with the court order.

Giordano's ruling only pertains to Denman. Complaints issued against Rosenbaum in the same court documents have yet to be addressed.